Runner Insight

^Click Arrow To Listen

2008 brought some pretty amazing changes. We had been attending a series of weekly meetings that revolved around the concept of the Law of Attraction and manifesting the best for your life.  One of the main themes that kept popping up throughout the meetings was “What is your passion in life?”  And people would talk about this or that, and be so enthusiastic about their passions: there were a handful of real estate investors, and there were people in the community social working type professions. And beauticians and nail techs, and people involved with multi-level marketing and direct sales and various other things. And everyone was full of inspiration and ideas.  

I however would sit in silence, not knowing how to participate. I was 44 years old, soon to be 45 and while I had a wonderful, comfortable life, I couldn’t really verbalize what my passion was.

Well okay, I did know what my passion was; it was running, but how in the world could I serve others while monetizing my passion for running? Eventually the drip effect did its work on me during all those meetings along with the CD’s I had been listening to. 

 After many months and some unexpected spiritual growth, I had an epiphany of sorts.  I’m legally blind, and even though it’s much harder for me to run, I still manage to do it routinely, because it is my passion.  One evening a truly inspired thought came to me: VisionRunner.com – I could start a blog about being a blind runner.  It would be about my life as a blind runner, and about overcoming obstacles and how it’s not so much what happens to you as what you do with it that defines your success in the world. Hopefully it would be an inspiration to others overcoming difficulties in their lives since we all have them in one way, shape or form.

Eventually it turned into this blog: www.RunnerInsight.com, and I went with Vision Runner as my tag name.  I am now using my unique set of circumstances and my passion for running to inspire others.  I started my blog in September of 2008, and this spring I have embarked on a new mission in conjunction with my blog. It’s called Run Over to Ellen’s and it’s a 1,222 mile virtual run to the Ellen TV Show in Burbank, CA to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  (www.RunOverToEllens.com)

I guess it’s true that as we grow and mature, we become more about “What can I do to serve others?” rather than “How can I help myself?”  Using my passion for running to help others is the most rewarding gift the Universe has given me.  By going deep within myself, I was able to find my passion, make it uniquely mine and change my reality.

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

Popularity: 1% [?]

^Click Arrow To Listen

If you’ve donated and been following the video blog daily updates on my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project, you know that I’ve been dealing with a bunch of heavy equipment and construction machinery and closed roads on my running path this past month. Well, now the construction project has been completed, and my running trail has open and easy access again.

I wanted to let the crew know how much I appreciated everything they did to help me out this past month, so I wrote a letter to the Editor of our local newspaper, and am also mailing a copy to the construction company that they work for.

Here’s the letter to the Editor that I sent this week:

 Editor:

I just wanted to give a big shout out to the crew at Jensen Construction Co. for being so helpful and kind to me during the road work out on South Ave. the past few weeks.

I’m legally blind, and I’d just started my virtual Run Over To Ellen’s (www.RunOverToEllens.com ) 1,222.25 mile fundraising run for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  (See Missoulian article: Wednesday June 3, 2009.) Since my vision is limited, I have been running on South Ave. as it’s a controlled path that is easy for me to navigate with my white cane. 

When I was told that South Ave. was going to be closed, I became concerned.  How was I going to get the mileage in that I needed each week to meet my goal? So not knowing what to expect, I ventured out the first day construction was to begin. With my white cane in hand and running clothes on, I made my way slowly and cautiously to the “Sidewalk Closed” sign.  After waiting less than a minute, one of the workers approached me.  I explained to him about my dilemma and he was more than willing to accommodate me.  He put his elbow out, and escorted me around the enormous construction equipment and mounds of gravel until we were on smooth sidewalk again. 

He told me it was no problem, just wait for one of them each day, and they would be glad to help me around.

So for this past month, that’s just what I did.  I know Brad helped me several times, and Tom a few times. And while I can’t remember the names of all the other great folks that served as my eyes for me, I really want them ALL to know how much I sincerely appreciate their kindness and willingness to help me run my 36 miles a week on the path I can navigate.

I’m sure that construction crews don’t get enough recognition for a job well done, but in this case, it goes well beyond an “Atta boy” and “Job well-done”. You folks at Jensen on the South Avenue crew all made what could have been a major setback for me, a huge success! So a monstrously huge Thanks!

How ’bout it?

- Vision Runner 

 www.RunOverToEllens.com

www.RunnerInsight.com

www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner

P.S. If you donated and can’t find (should be in the FirstGiving email response you got when you donated) or remember the private access link to follow the daily video blog updates, email us at admin at RunnerInsight dot com and we’ll be happy to shoot you the access website link again.

Popularity: 2% [?]

My Slapdown

^Click Arrow To Listen

On Thursday I was interviewed by Dr. Andrew Shatte’.  He is on the faculty at the University of Arizona and is currently working on a book about people who have overcome adversities.  He’s interviewed lots of people who have been handed some sort of “slapdown” by life (his term). He was intrigued by my slapdown story, and we had an insightful and somewhat introspective conversation.  He asked me a lot of questions in reference to my reaction and the subsequent acceptance of my life with the eye disease RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa). 

But there was one question in particular that Andrew asked me, that I had a hard time articulating an answer for. It was “Did faith or spirituality play a part in how you handled your “slapdown”?”  I told him yes, it most certainly had, but I felt my answer was inadequate in expressing how much it truly has helped me to not allow myself to be limited by my vision constraints.  Even though I’m legally blind, and I do have to deal with that every day, I don’t define myself that way or see myself as “broken” or “limited”.

I’m constantly aware that I’m part of something much bigger than just myself.  It would be nearly impossible to continue on the journey that I’m on if I had chosen to live as a victim.  There’s an inner knowledge that we are all connected, and that gives me hope and a sense of security.  And it’s not just the hope that I will someday see again, but the knowledge that what we do here in this lifetime counts. It matters, and we are here for a reason. 

That reason may not be fully revealed to us until we are no longer a part of this physical world, but it doesn’t matter whether it’s made clear or not. I have the unshakeable faith that what I’m doing at this very moment in time is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. 

There was no way for me to know what my life was going to bring me.  No way to know that it would take going blind for me to even begin to understand what being of service to others is all about. I’m absolutely confident that had I been living my life without this particular challenge, I would not be working on my current 1,222.25 mile fundraising run in an effort to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind, or have even considered running to the Ellen TV Show! 

I could have looked at my “Slapdown” through the eyes of a victim, but at the time, I chose this road, not because I’m more evolved or smarter, but because it was the only road I knew. And that journey would allow me to eventually end up where I am today.

I do have faith in the Universe and its infinite wisdom. Look where it’s brought me so far!! I live a beautiful and peaceful and contented life that is only getting better literally every single day.

 How ’bout it?

 - Vision Runner

P.S. If you’re getting value out of this blog, you can do me a favor by linking to us and mentioning my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project to friends and co-workers.  Here’s the link information for this article:
Title: My Slapdown

URL: http://runnerinsight.com/2009/06/22/my-slapdown/ 

P.S.S. Here’s an informational website all about guide dogs…www.Guide-Dogs.info

Popularity: 18% [?]